All his life, Thomas Jackson, the American Civil War
Confederate General, wrestled with the moral dilemma that
slavery posed.

As his wife, Anna, wrote "before the war,
'Stonewall' had preferred that the negroes should go
free". Although he owned slaves, most were old and
unfit to work. Many had begged Jackson to purchase them.
For his mastership was a welcome alternative to a life of
starving that was their fate otherwise.

Jackson also ran a "colored Sunday school"
and did his best to encourage literacy amongst those who
had attended. For Jackson himself was a living example of
how education could rescue a person from poverty. Had
Jackson not received a West Point education, he would
most likely have been doomed to a lifetime of drudgery
and obscurity in rural West Virginia.

The General fervently believed that "God had
crowned his (Jackson's) army with victory". So when
the tide of war was clearly turning against the
Confederacy, Jackson could not help but search his soul
for the reason why. As his doubts grew, so did his need
to attend church and sponsor prayer services.

In the last month of his life, his doubts about the
"wisdom of human bondage" could not be
contained. "Stonewall" had even gone so far -
uncharacteristic for one of his legendary secrecy - as to
confide his misgivings about the righteousness of the
"cause" to one of his staff. That was shortly
to prove a very fatal mistake.

For the staff officer knew that if the South's
greatest hero were to make known his reservations about
slavery, it would plunge the Confederate Army into
turmoil. He also knew that Jackson fully deserved the
name of Stonewall: for once the General had made up his
mind about something, nothing could stop him.

While the long overdue visit of his wife and child
occupied Jackson's attentions, plans were being formed to
"dismantle the great Stonewall" before he could
spill the Confederacy's best kept secret.

Not that it was difficult to get rid of Jackson. He
was renowned for frequently exposing himself to needless
danger. When he rode in front of his own lines to perform
night reconnaissance, Jackson had signed his own death
warrant.

When the conspirators heard the voice of his aide and
brother-in-law, Joseph Morrison, they knew that "the
General" was near. Among his staff, the reason why
Jackson was now keeping young Morrison so close to him
was well known.

The General felt extremely guilty that his strict
observance of duty had kept him from his wife's side when
his "beloved Anna" had needed him (she had
given birth and nursed a sick child and mother alone).
Guilt stricken, Jackson was keeping Joseph near him - to
keep Anna's brother safe.

Morrison spoke: giving the countersign that Jackson's
party was riding the front lines. John Barry, the officer
in charge of that section, was in league with the staff
officer who carried "Stonewall's" secret. He
knew it was Morrison but said "it was a lie - pour
into 'em boys". He immediately ordered his men to
fire gunshot into the General's party, killing some and
seriously wounding Jackson.

Significantly, "no stigma" attached to Barry
for having given that order and later he was promoted
twice in the Confederate Army. (Life has a way of
balancing the scales: although Barry survived the war, he
died 2 years later at the age of 27).

Miraculously, Jackson survived this attack. While he
lay recovering, he told another staff officer that his
wounds were "a blessing". His remarks were not
meant for the one he spoke with but for another also
present in the room at the time. Jackson regarded the man
in "stony" silence for a moment.

The man knew Jackson meant the true blessing was that
he had survived the assassination attempt. By the look on
the General's face, the man knew Jackson had decided to
remain quiet on the matter of slavery. The man was not
worried: for by then the General was fast sinking into
death.

Pneumonia shortly ended "Stonewall's" life.
And thus the "Confederacy's best kept secret"
was confined to the silence of the grave... until now.